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Selected Verse: Job 17:6 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Job 17:6	Strong Concordance	He hath made [03322] me also a byword [04914] of the people [05971]; and aforetime [06440] I was as a tabret [08611].
	King James	He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
He--God. The poet reverentially suppresses the name of God when speaking of calamities inflicted. by-word-- (Deu 28:37; Psa 69:11). My awful punishment makes my name execrated everywhere, as if I must have been superlatively bad to have earned it. aforetime . . . tabret--as David was honored (Sa1 18:6). Rather from a different Hebrew root, "I am treated to my face as an object of disgust," literally, "an object to be spit upon in the face" (Num 12:14). So Raca means (Mat 5:22) [UMBREIT].

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

He--God. The poet reverentially suppresses the name of God when speaking of calamities inflicted.

by-word-- (Deu 28:37; Psa 69:11). My awful punishment makes my name execrated everywhere, as if I must have been superlatively bad to have earned it.

aforetime . . . tabret--as David was honored (Sa1 18:6). Rather from a different Hebrew root, "I am treated to my face as an object of disgust," literally, "an object to be spit upon in the face" (Num 12:14). So Raca means (Mat 5:22) [UMBREIT].

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
He hath also - That is, God has done this. Also a by-word - A proverb (משׁל mâshâl); a term of reproach, ridicule, or scorn. lie has exposed me to derision. And aforetime - Margin "before them." The margin is the correct translation of the Hebrew, פנים pânı̂ym. It means, in their presence, or in their view. I was as a tabret - This is an unhappy translation. The true meaning is," I am become their "abhorrence," or am to them an object of contempt." Vulgate, "I am an exampie ("exemplum") to them." Septuagint, "I am become a laughter (γέλως gelōs) to them." The Chaldee renders it, "Thou hast placed me for a proverb to the people, and I shall be Gehenna (גיהנם gayhı̂nnôm) to them." The Hebrew word תפת tôpheth - or "Tophet," is the name which is often given in the Scriptures to the valley of Hinnom - the place where children were sacrificed to Moloch; see the notes at Mat 5:22. But there is no evidence or probability that the word was so used in the time of Job. It is never used in the Scriptures in the sense of a "tabret," that is a tabor or small drum; though the word תף toph is thus used; see the notes at Isa 5:12. The word used here is derived, probably, from the obsolete verb תיף typ - "to spit out;" and then to spit out with contempt. The verb is so used in Chaldee. "Castell." The meaning of the word probably still lives in the Arabic, The Arabic word means to spit out with contempt; and the various forms of the nouns derived from the verb are applied to anything detested, or detestable; to the parings of the nails; to an abandoned woman; to a dog, etc. See "Castell" on this word. I have no doubt that is the sense here, and that we have here a word whose true signification is to be sought in the Arabic; and that Job means to say that he was treated as the most loathsome and execrable object.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
6 And He hath made me a proverb to the world, And I became as one in whose face they spit. 7 Then mine eye became dim with grief, And all my members were like a shadow. 8 The upright were astonished at it, And the innocent is stirred up over the godless; 9 Nevertheless the righteous holdeth fast on his way, And he that hath clean hands waxeth stronger and stronger. Without a question, the subj. of Job 17:6 is God. It is the same thing whether משׁל is taken as inf. followed by the subject in the nominative (Ges. 133, 2), or as a subst. (lxx θρύλλημα; Aq., Symm., Theod., παραβολήν), like שׂחוק, Job 12:4, followed by the gen. subjectivus. משׁל is the usual word for ridicule, expressed in parables of a satirical character, e.g., Joe 2:17 (according to which, if משׁל were intended as inf., משׁל־בּי עמּים might have been expected); עמּים signifies both nations and races, and tribes or people, i.e., members of this and that nation, or in gen. of mankind (Job 12:2). We have intentionally chosen an ambiguous expression in the translation, for what Job says can be meant of a wide range of people (comp. on Job 2:11 ad fin.), as well as of those in the immediate neighbourhood; the friends themselves represent different tribes; and a perishable gipsy-like troglodyte race, to whom Job is become a derision, is specially described further on (Job 24, 30). Job 17:6 By תּפת (translated by Jer. exemplum, and consequently mistaken for מופת) the older expositors are reminded of the name of the place where the sacrifices were offered to Moloch in the valley of the sons of Hinnom (whence גּיהנּם, γέεννα, hell), since they explain it by "the fire of hell," but only from want of a right perception; the לפנים standing with it, which nowhere signifies palam, and cannot here (where אהיה, although in the signification ἐγενόμην, follows) signify a multo tempore, shows that תפת here is to be derived from תּוּף, to spit out (as נפת, gum, from נוּף). This verb certainly cannot be supported in Hebr. and Aram. (since רקק is the commoner word), except two passages in the Talmud (Nidda 42a, comp. Sabbath 99b, and Chethuboth 61b); but it is confirmed by the Aethiopic and Coptic and an onomatopoetic origin, as the words πτύειν, ψύειν, spuere, Germ. speien, etc., show. (Note: תוף is related to the Sanskrit root shttı̂v, as τέγη, τρύχους, τρύζω, and the like, to στέγη, στρύχνος, στρύζω,, vid., Kuhn's Zeitschrift, Bd. iv. Abh. i. (the falling away of s before mutes).) Cognate is the Arabic taffafa, to treat with contempt, and the interjection tuffan, fie upon thee, (Note: Almost all modern expositors repeat the remark here, that this tuffan is similar in meaning to ῥακά, Mat 5:22, while they might learn from Lightfoot that it has nothing to do with רק, to spit, but is equivalent to ריקא, κενέ.) e.g., in the proverb (quoted by Umbreit): ‛aini fihi watuffan ‛aleihi, my eye rests on it wishfully, and yet I feel disgust at it. Therefore לפנים (spitting upon the face) is equivalent to בפנים, Num 12:14; Deu 25:9 (to spit in the face). In consequence of this deep debasement of the object of scorn and spitting, the brightness and vision of his eye (sense of sight) are become dim (comp. Psa 6:8; Psa 31:10) מכּעשׂ (always written with שׂ, not ס, in the book of Job), from grief, and his frames, i.e., bodily frame = members (Jer. membra, Targ. incorrectly: features), are become like a shadow all of them, as fleshless and powerless as a shadow, which is only appearance without substance. His suffering, his miserable form (זאת), is of such a kind that the upright are astonished (שׁמם, to become desolate, silent), and the guiltless (like himself and other innocent sufferers) become excited (here with vexation as in Psa 37:1, as in Job 31:29 with joy) over the godless (who is none the less prosperous); but the righteous holds firm (without allowing himself to be disconcerted by this anomalous condition of things, though impenetrably mysterious) on his way (the way of good to which he has pledged himself), and the pure of hands (וּטהר־ as Pro 22:11, according to another mode of writing וּטהר־ with Chateph-Kametz under the ט and Gaja under the ו; comp. Isa 54:9, where the form of writing וּמגּער־ umiggoor is well authorized) increases (יוסיף, of inward increase, as Ecc 1:18) in strength (אמץ only here in the book of Job); i.e., far from allowing suffering to draw him from God to the side of the godless, he gathers strength thereby only still more perseveringly to pursue righteousness of life and purity of conduct, since suffering, especially in connection with such experiences as Job now has with the three friends, drives him to God and makes his communion with Him closer and firmer. These words of Job (if we may be allowed the figure) are like a rocket which shoots above the tragic darkness of the book, lighting it up suddenly, although only for a short time. The confession which breaks through in lyric form in Ps 73 here finds expression of a more brief, sententious kind. The point of Eliphaz' reproach (Job 15:4), that Job makes void the fear of God, and depreciates communion with God, is destroyed by this confession, and the assurance of Satan (Job 2:5) is confronted by a fact of experience, which, if it should also become manifest in the case of Job, puts to shame and makes void the hope of the evil spirit.

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]

6 And He hath made me a proverb to the world,

And I became as one in whose face they spit.

7 Then mine eye became dim with grief,

And all my members were like a shadow.

8 The upright were astonished at it,

And the innocent is stirred up over the godless;

9 Nevertheless the righteous holdeth fast on his way,

And he that hath clean hands waxeth stronger and stronger.

Without a question, the subj. of Job 17:6 is God. It is the same thing whether משׁל is taken as inf. followed by the subject in the nominative (Ges. 133, 2), or as a subst. (lxx θρύλλημα; Aq., Symm., Theod., παραβολήν), like שׂחוק, Job 12:4, followed by the gen. subjectivus. משׁל is the usual word for ridicule, expressed in parables of a satirical character, e.g., Joe 2:17 (according to which, if משׁל were intended as inf., משׁל־בּי עמּים might have been expected); עמּים signifies both nations and races, and tribes or people, i.e., members of this and that nation, or in gen. of mankind (Job 12:2). We have intentionally chosen an ambiguous expression in the translation, for what Job says can be meant of a wide range of people (comp. on Job 2:11 ad fin.), as well as of those in the immediate neighbourhood; the friends themselves represent different tribes; and a perishable gipsy-like troglodyte race, to whom Job is become a derision, is specially described further on (Job 24, 30).

Job 17:6

By תּפת (translated by Jer. exemplum, and consequently mistaken for מופת) the older expositors are reminded of the name of the place where the sacrifices were offered to Moloch in the valley of the sons of Hinnom (whence גּיהנּם, γέεννα, hell), since they explain it by "the fire of hell," but only from want of a right perception; the לפנים standing with it, which nowhere signifies palam, and cannot here (where אהיה, although in the signification ἐγενόμην, follows) signify a multo tempore, shows that תפת here is to be derived from תּוּף, to spit out (as נפת, gum, from נוּף). This verb certainly cannot be supported in Hebr. and Aram. (since רקק is the commoner word), except two passages in the Talmud (Nidda 42a, comp. Sabbath 99b, and Chethuboth 61b); but it is confirmed by the Aethiopic and Coptic and an onomatopoetic origin, as the words πτύειν, ψύειν, spuere, Germ. speien, etc., show.

(Note: תוף is related to the Sanskrit root shttı̂v, as τέγη, τρύχους, τρύζω, and the like, to στέγη, στρύχνος, στρύζω,, vid., Kuhn's Zeitschrift, Bd. iv. Abh. i. (the falling away of s before mutes).)

Cognate is the Arabic taffafa, to treat with contempt, and the interjection tuffan, fie upon thee,

(Note: Almost all modern expositors repeat the remark here, that this tuffan is similar in meaning to ῥακά, Mat 5:22, while they might learn from Lightfoot that it has nothing to do with רק, to spit, but is equivalent to ריקא, κενέ.)

e.g., in the proverb (quoted by Umbreit): ‛aini fihi watuffan ‛aleihi, my eye rests on it wishfully, and yet I feel disgust at it. Therefore לפנים (spitting upon the face) is equivalent to בפנים, Num 12:14; Deu 25:9 (to spit in the face). In consequence of this deep debasement of the object of scorn and spitting, the brightness and vision of his eye (sense of sight) are become dim (comp. Psa 6:8; Psa 31:10) מכּעשׂ (always written with שׂ, not ס, in the book of Job), from grief, and his frames, i.e., bodily frame = members (Jer. membra, Targ. incorrectly: features), are become like a shadow all of them, as fleshless and powerless as a shadow, which is only appearance without substance. His suffering, his miserable form (זאת), is of such a kind that the upright are astonished (שׁמם, to become desolate, silent), and the guiltless (like himself and other innocent sufferers) become excited (here with vexation as in Psa 37:1, as in Job 31:29 with joy) over the godless (who is none the less prosperous); but the righteous holds firm (without allowing himself to be disconcerted by this anomalous condition of things, though impenetrably mysterious) on his way (the way of good to which he has pledged himself), and the pure of hands (וּטהר־ as Pro 22:11, according to another mode of writing וּטהר־ with Chateph-Kametz under the ט and Gaja under the ו; comp. Isa 54:9, where the form of writing וּמגּער־ umiggoor is well authorized) increases (יוסיף, of inward increase, as Ecc 1:18) in strength (אמץ only here in the book of Job); i.e., far from allowing suffering to draw him from God to the side of the godless, he gathers strength thereby only still more perseveringly to pursue righteousness of life and purity of conduct, since suffering, especially in connection with such experiences as Job now has with the three friends, drives him to God and makes his communion with Him closer and firmer. These words of Job (if we may be allowed the figure) are like a rocket which shoots above the tragic darkness of the book, lighting it up suddenly, although only for a short time. The confession which breaks through in lyric form in Ps 73 here finds expression of a more brief, sententious kind. The point of Eliphaz' reproach (Job 15:4), that Job makes void the fear of God, and depreciates communion with God, is destroyed by this confession, and the assurance of Satan (Job 2:5) is confronted by a fact of experience, which, if it should also become manifest in the case of Job, puts to shame and makes void the hope of the evil spirit.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
He hath made me also a by-word - My afflictions and calamities have become a subject of general conversation, so that my poverty and affliction are proverbial. As poor as Job, As afflicted as Job, are proverbs that have even reached our times and are still in use. Aforetime I was as a tabret - This is not the translation of the Hebrew ותפת לפנים אהיה vethopheth lephanim eheyeh. Instead of לפנים lephanim, I would read לפניהם liphneghem, and then the clause might be translated thus: I shall be as a furnace, or consuming fire (Topheth) before them. They shall have little reason to mock when they see the end of the Lord's dealings with me; my example will be a consuming fire to them, and my false friends will be confounded. Coverdale translates thus: He hath made me as it were a byworde of the comon people. I am his gestinge stocke amonge them.

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²² But [1161] I [1473] say [3004] unto you [5213], That [3754] whosoever [3956] is angry [3710] with his [846] brother [80] without a cause [1500] shall be [2071] in danger [1777] of the judgment [2920]: and [1161] whosoever [3739] [302] shall say [2036] to his [846] brother [80], Raca [4469], shall be [2071] in danger [1777] of the council [4892]: but [1161] whosoever [3739] [302] shall say [2036], Thou fool [3474], shall be [2071] in danger [1777] of [1519] hell [1067] fire [4442].

¹⁴ And the LORD [03068] said [0559] unto Moses [04872], If her father [01] had but [03417] spit [03417] in her face [06440], should she not be ashamed [03637] seven [07651] days [03117]? let her be shut [05462] out [02351] from the camp [04264] seven [07651] days [03117], and after [0310] that let her be received [0622] in again.

⁶ And it came to pass as they came [0935], when David [01732] was returned [07725] from the slaughter [05221] of the Philistine [06430], that the women [0802] came out [03318] of all cities [05892] of Israel [03478], singing [07891] and dancing [04246], to meet [07125] king [04428] Saul [07586], with tabrets [08596], with joy [08057], and with instruments of musick [07991].

¹¹ I made [05414] sackcloth [08242] also my garment [03830]; and I became a proverb [04912] to them.

³⁷ And thou shalt become an astonishment [08047], a proverb [04912], and a byword [08148], among all nations [05971] whither the LORD [03068] shall lead [05090] thee.

¹² And the harp [03658], and the viol [05035], the tabret [08596], and pipe [02485], and wine [03196], are in their feasts [04960]: but they regard [05027] not the work [06467] of the LORD [03068], neither consider [07200] the operation [04639] of his hands [03027].

⁵ But [0199] put forth [07971] thine hand [03027] now, and touch [05060] his bone [06106] and his flesh [01320], and he will curse [01288] thee to thy face [06440].

⁴ Yea, thou castest off [06565] fear [03374], and restrainest [01639] prayer [07881] before [06440] God [0410].

¹⁸ For in much [07230] wisdom [02451] is much [07230] grief [03708]: and he that increaseth [03254] knowledge [01847] increaseth [03254] sorrow [04341].

⁹ For this is as the waters [04325] of Noah [05146] unto me: for as I have sworn [07650] that the waters [04325] of Noah [05146] should no more go over [05674] the earth [0776]; so have I sworn [07650] that I would not be wroth [07107] with thee, nor rebuke [01605] thee.

¹¹ He that loveth [0157] pureness [02890] [02889] of heart [03820], for the grace [02580] of his lips [08193] the king [04428] shall be his friend [07453].

²⁹ If I rejoiced [08055] at the destruction [06365] of him that hated [08130] me, or lifted up [05782] myself when evil [07451] found [04672] him:

¹ A Psalm of David [01732]. Fret [02734] not thyself because of evildoers [07489], neither be thou envious [07065] against the workers [06213] of iniquity [05766].

¹⁰ For my life [02416] is spent [03615] with grief [03015], and my years [08141] with sighing [0585]: my strength [03581] faileth [03782] because of mine iniquity [05771], and my bones [06106] are consumed [06244].

⁸ Depart [05493] from me, all ye workers [06466] of iniquity [0205]; for the LORD [03068] hath heard [08085] the voice [06963] of my weeping [01065].

⁹ Then shall his brother's wife [02994] come [05066] unto him in the presence [05869] of the elders [02205], and loose [02502] his shoe [05275] from off his foot [07272], and spit [03417] in his face [06440], and shall answer [06030] and say [0559], So shall it be done [06213] unto that man [0376] that will not build up [01129] his brother's [0251] house [01004].

⁶ He hath made [03322] me also a byword [04914] of the people [05971]; and aforetime [06440] I was as a tabret [08611].

¹¹ Now when Job's [0347] three [07969] friends [07453] heard [08085] of all this evil [07451] that was come [0935] upon him, they came [0935] every one [0376] from his own place [04725]; Eliphaz [0464] the Temanite [08489], and Bildad [01085] the Shuhite [07747], and Zophar [06691] the Naamathite [05284]: for they had made an appointment [03259] together [03162] to come [0935] to mourn [05110] with him and to comfort [05162] him.

² No doubt [0551] but ye are the people [05971], and wisdom [02451] shall die [04191] with you.

¹⁷ Let the priests [03548], the ministers [08334] of the LORD [03068], weep [01058] between the porch [0197] and the altar [04196], and let them say [0559], Spare [02347] thy people [05971], O LORD [03068], and give [05414] not thine heritage [05159] to reproach [02781], that the heathen [01471] should rule over [04910] them: wherefore should they say [0559] among the people [05971], Where is their God [0430]?

⁴ I am as one mocked [07814] of his neighbour [07453], who calleth [07121] upon God [0433], and he answereth [06030] him: the just [06662] upright [08549] man is laughed to scorn [07814].

⁶ He hath made [03322] me also a byword [04914] of the people [05971]; and aforetime [06440] I was as a tabret [08611].